Monthly Archives: April 2012

Aruba is one of my favorite destinations for shooting weddings. Located in the southern Caribbean Sea (CLICK TO SEE MAP), 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela, Aruba has one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. People here are so hospitable and always have a smile on their faces, that’s why the place is perfectly called “One Happy Island”.

That’s why when Kara and Anthony chose us to cover their wedding in this gorgeous island, I was so thrilled and felt like I won the lottery! Check out some of the images from their wedding-

Kara and Anthony booked us together with their family and friends at the The Westin Resort & Casino Aruba. This was the same place we stayed a couple of years ago when we covered Steve and Valerie’s wedding. We actually recommended the place to them since we were really impressed on how everyone in this hotel was so helpful. And I am glad they picked this place.

Love this moment the bride has with her father few minutes before he walked her down the aisle to give her away to her new husband….

Kara was a gorgeous bride on her wedding day…and of course perfectly matched with a handsome groom….

The wedding ceremony was held on the beach at The Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa. Though the sun was all out on that hot afternoon, the blue skies above still made this wedding a colorful one….

The wedding reception followed at La Trattoria el Faro Blanco Restaurant, which has a view of the famous California Lighthouse on the hill of Hudishibana in Aruba. Everyone at the reception knew how to party…and it helps when you have a really good local band playing Caribbean music. And talk about “dancing with the stars”, Kara and Anthony just have those kind of dancing moves. And one thing I will never forget…love their wedding cake!…it’s one of the best I’ve ever had actually in my many years of shooting weddings.

Then the next day after the wedding, Kara agreed to “trash the dress”…yay! This is my favorite part of the destination wedding. I lined up a few places to shoot at and I wanted to do it at some exotic landmarks of Aruba, no matter how difficult it is to get there. So to make sure we get there in one piece, I went and rented a 2011 Jeep Wrangler to take us to the famous Quadiriki Caves located in Arikok National Park in Aruba. Many locals believe that these bat caves used to be a place for pirates to hide their treasures.

Then on our way back to the hotel we stopped at Boca Prins Beach to shoot these. Swimming here is prohibited due to the danger of the powerful underwater current that can pull anyone strongly from the shore to the bottom of the ocean floor. You can just imagine how worried I was during these shoots…one thing I made sure though is that my bride and groom are far from danger. =)

While in Boca Prins, I noticed this cliff over these rough waters. I was like….”Oh my gosh, we definitely have to shoot here”. I was a little worried about how high and scary this cliff is, but Kara braved the moment and did it for the sake of great photography.

Kara and Anthony are an amazing couple – not to mention they are both beautiful people inside and out! I thank them for letting me and my wife Bless be part of their special day.

Two of my images from my Reportage on Good Friday Crucifixions in the Philippines were chosen to be featured in Zuma Press’ Pictures of the Day.

I had the most amazing experience covering this event despite the challenge of the 95 degree weather and humidity. Thanks to all the villagers of San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga for showing us the genuine Filipino hospitality. Click on the image below to see their site.

I am currently in my home country the Philippines doing some documentary work. I spent the whole week out in the province of Pampanga photographing the Holy Week rituals. The biggest challenge was the heat and humidity, being it’s the beginning of summer here.

During Holy Week, penitents in the Philippines emulate the sufferings of Jesus during to atone for their sins or to pray for their sick love ones. Some carry crosses and some scourge their wounded backs as they make their procession around their villages while stopping at each stations. At each of these stations few devotees sing the ”Pasyón”, the Philippine epic narrative of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And on Good Friday, in the town of San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga thousands gather to witness nine men as they are crucified to the cross by villagers dressed as Roman Centurions as part of the Good Friday rituals. Ruben Enaje, 51, who plays “Kristo” is among those nine men. According to Enaje, he started doing this in the early 80s as a thanksgiving to God after surviving a fall from a building. He is now on his 26th year of crucifixion.